Possible Conflict Of Interest Upsets City Council

Possible Conflict Of Interest Upsets Council

Although some council members say they are embarrassed about the votes their fellow council member Sandra E. Little cast that benefited her employer, as of Monday, they had not decided what to do.

"We have to clear the air, whether it's bad or good," said Democratic Councilman Fernando Comulada.

At the May 26 council meeting, Little voted to approve $16,500 in city funding for an after-school program at the South Arsenal Neighborhood Development complex that she runs. Her vote on funding for the program was one of four she cast at the meeting that sent money -- totaling $90,000 -- to the nonprofit community agency or its tenants.

In addition, Little introduced three of the SAND-related funding proposals, and many were approved by the council's parks and recreation committee, which she leads.

Little, who receives $400 weekly to run the SAND-BLAST program, has said that voting to fund the after-school program was an oversight and that she does not view her support of these resolutions as a conflict.

Mayor Carrie Saxon Perry said that she spoke with Little Monday night and that more discussions are planned. But she lamented the way the situation unfolded.

"I'm just sad about the way this had to be discussed and that there wasn't any discussion prior," Perry said.

She added that Little's vote on the funding of the after-school program was not critical to its passage.

"It was a 9-0 vote. It wasn't like she broke a tie," Perry said.

Council Democrats delayed their usual Monday afternoon caucus until today. Deputy Mayor Nicholas J. Fusco has said that the council should talk about Little's votes, and added Monday that he anticipates the subject will be discussed during today's closed-door meeting, but as of now he does not expect any action.

But Asim A. Hanif, chairman of the parks and recreation advisory commission, who has called for Little's resignation, said the council should take steps against Little.

"To me, the onus is on the council. Either they will do

something about it or else they're going to dirty their hands and sweep it under the rug," Hanif said.

Little's People for Change colleague Eugenio Caro said he doubted Little had overlooked her votes.

"It's embarrassing. I feel she got into the situation because she wanted to; it was not an oversight," he said.

But he also said he did not expect the council would take action against Little.

Before Little took the part-time job in October, the office of the city's corporation counsel said it did not appear to be a conflict of interest, but told her not to vote on any SAND-related items until she asked for and received a written legal opinion on the matter.

H. Maria Cone, deputy corporation counsel, said Monday that her office had not received requests for legal opinions from Little or any other council members about the votes